Eaton offers advice about Rockies, Coors Field

By Jack Etkin / Special to MLB.com

DENVER -- Center fielder Adam Eaton was acquired in December from the D-backs in exchange for pitcher Hector Santiago and outfielder Brandon Jacobs. Eaton is in the American League for the first time after playing 88 games for Arizona the past two seasons, including seven at Coors Field.

"Guys are asking me questions about this place," Eaton said of his White Sox teammates, "because I've been here a few times. I'm familiar with this league and most of the pitching. It's nice to be a little more familiar."

Eaton, who has hit safely in five of his first six games with the White Sox in the leadoff spot, entered Monday with a .269 average (7-for-26) with four runs scored and five RBIs. He is trying to build up a data bank on American League pitchers, many of them unknown.

"One day I'm comfortable because I've seen this guy," Eaton said. "The next day, it's up in the air, because you know you haven't seen this guy yet. You have to kind of feel him out as he's feeling you out. So it's almost like Spring Training all over again. It's going to be a process. I definitely think I'll be better the second time around seeing guys."

Ventura happy to see White Sox compete

DENVER -- The White Sox brought a 3-3 record into their Interleague series with the Rockies. Those losses include two one-run defeats and another by two runs. They have twice overcome a two-run deficit, and have surrendered one lead of three runs.

It's just the beginning of the second week of the season, but manager Robin Ventura has noticed a welcome contrast to the 2013 team that lost 99 games.

"As bad as last year was, we just never seemed to be able to fight back once we got down," Ventura said. "And now I think we're getting a feeling of being able to come back late in a game that we didn't have last year. Our team the year before had some of that."

Ventura called Sunday's 5-1 win at Kansas City important, and not simply because it averted a series sweep after 7-6 and 4-3 losses. The White Sox had ace Chris Sale on the mound. They took a 1-0 lead into the ninth and beat the Royals 5-1.

"That's a building step," Ventura said. "Momentum is a feeling that you have. It has to happen. Anybody can have that belief. But if it never happens, eventually that belief goes away."

Right-hander Hanson signs Minor League deal

DENVER -- The White Sox signed right-handed pitcher Tommy Hanson to a Minor League contract on Monday. Hanson, 27, will report to extended spring camp at the White Sox complex in Glendale, Ariz., before reporting to Triple-A Charlotte.

The Rangers released Hanson before the end of Spring Training. In five Major League season with the Braves (2009-2012) and Angels (2013), Hanson is 49-35 with a 3.83 ERA in 123 games, including 121 starts.

Third to first

• White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu had difficulty catching a few throws -- not digging balls out of the dirt -- over the weekend in Kansas City, but Ventura has no concerns.

"I think sometimes you get set too early," Ventura said. "A ball moves on him, it's a little tougher to move your feet and get back into position to get a good shot at it. It's not anything that is glaring, just one of those [things] you have to work at it. He's got good hands. It's just more setting up too early."

• White Sox first base coach Darryl Boston played for the Rockies in their 1993 expansion season. A reserve outfielder on that team, Boston, then 30, hit .261 with 14 homers and 40 RBIs in 124 games.

• Right fielder Avisail Garcia was in the lineup Monday after hitting the ground face-first and making a sprawling catch Sunday in Kansas City in the fourth inning. He stayed on the ground with his legs splayed up in the air before slowly getting up.

"He didn't spend a whole lot of time with [trainer] Herm [Schneider], so that's good news," Ventura said. "It didn't look good when he first did it, but he seems fine."

Jack Etkin is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.